OPINION Central Kitsap
Page A4
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This week’s question: Do you think E-cigarettes should be regulated like regular tobacco cigarettes are? Vote and see results online at www.bremertonpatriot.com or www.centralkitsapreporter.com
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Friday, January 10, 2014 | Central Kitsap Reporter
They answered the call Bremerton has reason to be proud. After experiencing a Christmas time tragedy, officials at several Bremerton area social services and those at Volunteer in Bremerton are to be congratulated for their efforts. When a Christmas Eve Day fire displaced about 50 residents at the Madrona Estates Apartments, they rushed into action. Forget that it was Christmas Eve Day and all of them had their own holidays matters to tend to. They answered the call. The Bremerton American Red Cross, the Bremerton Salvation Army and Volunteers in Bremerton came to the rescue of those who found themselves homeless, offering places for them to stay, blankets, warm clothing and warm meals. Additionally, St. Vincent de Paul, Goodwill and the Bremerton Foodline helped make sure that those who were affected had their immediate needs met and are helping with long term care for both those who have moved back into their apartments and those who have relocated to new places. For those who could return to their apartments, they were in need of food to replace that which was spoiled when the electricity was off for more than a day. Volunteer in Bremerton members took charge and made sure that they had food gift cards and a way to get to the nearest grocery stores to replace their food. For those who could not move back into their apartments because they were so severely damaged, the Red Cross and others have helped them find new places to live and are working to get those apartments furnished with everything from linens to dishes to televisions. Community members responding to tragic situations and putting aside their own needs is the true definition of giving. It’s what community means. And as these residents put their lives back together, all of us need to remember that social services need our help. Without steady donations, these social services will ceases to exist. January is a hard time for all of us with our holiday bills to pay. But dig deep and make a donation to one of the social services that responded to this fire. And next time emergency needs come about, volunteer to help. Give of your time and your money. Make this a community where we all share and care.
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Not so weird STEM science Science is fun, it really is. It is even more fun now that science fair projects have made their way back into the classroom curriculum at least at the STEM school my own child attends. Oh, sure there are still going to be adults that groan to some degree in regards to the cost, the time and the effort that has to be expended on these types of projects. It is not easy to tackle the difficult projects and not all of the students involved are as enthusiastic as they should be at the start. I was very excited to learn at the beginning of this school year, that the educators at the West Hills STEM Academy had incorporated students’ science fair submissions into their class time and overall grade. I have to hand it to them, discussions regarding potential project ideas and initial research components started back in October. A very realistic timeline of expectations and deadlines was then presented to the students and their families. When looking back at my column of three years ago on this very topic, I am extremely happy with how well this school and the district has turned around from not having a school level science fair at all to having one of the highest participation
Everything Bremerton
Colleen Smidt levels in the district when it comes to entries for the annual Washington State Science and Engineering Fair (WSSEF) hosted right here in Bremerton. Typically I write about the WSSEF closer to the actual event. But this year I am choosing to write about it far enough ahead of time so that maybe a few more Bremerton students might become informed and inspired enough to put together a project in the coming weeks and then go on to enter it in the WSSEF. Nick had a wonderful time this weekend conducting his experiments and gathering his data. Let’s face it, when you are a
12-year-old boy and you get to light things on fire under the acceptable umbrella of a scientific experiment, even with adult supervision, it’s a pretty good time. Information about the upcoming State Science Fair can be found on their website www. wssef.org. Within the site are pages of information, rules and requirements. The deadline for entry applications is March 15, and the entry fee is only $15. The organizers and volunteers who run this event are exacting in the amount of participant and visitor data that they collect. They then share this important data with the city of Bremerton who assists with funding the event out of their annual lodging tax fund. Entire families and schools come from all over the state of Washington to participate. Public, private and homeschooled students are welcome and encouraged to participate. My goal every year is to help this wonderful event grow, especially when it comes to the number of Bremerton students who enter. Take some time and encourage your student to begin work on a science fair project. You will be amazed at what they can accomplish and learn when it comes to hands on science applications.
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